FAQs
The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.
Why is a 1982 penny worth $10000? ›
So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years.
Is my penny copper or zinc? ›
Pennies are made of zinc coated with copper. Only nickels are one solid material—that same 75% copper/25% nickel alloy.
Do zinc pennies stick to magnets? ›
No. Copper or copper and zinc (pennies since 1972) are not magnetic metal. However, steel pennies made during World War II could be magnetized and are attracted to magnets.
What years are 100% copper pennies? ›
History of composition
Years | Material | Weight (grams) |
---|
1793–1795 | ~100% copper | 13.48 |
1795–1857 † | ~100% copper | 10.89 |
1856–1864 | 88% copper, 12% nickel (also known as NS-12) | 4.67 |
1864–1942 | bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) | 3.11 |
5 more rows
What copper penny is worth a lot of money? ›
The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics — and reportedly the most valuable Lincoln penny of all.
What copper pennies are worth a lot of money? ›
- 01 of 16. 1914-S Lincoln Penny. ...
- 02 of 16. 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet. ...
- 03 of 16. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny. ...
- 04 of 16. 1872 Indian Head Penny. ...
- 05 of 16. 1969-S Lincoln Penny–Doubled Die Obverse. ...
- 06 of 16. 1926-S Lincoln Penny. ...
- 07 of 16. 1877 Indian Head Penny. ...
- 08 of 16. 1914-D Lincoln Penny.
What does vinegar do to copper pennies? ›
When copper is exposed to oxygen, it forms molecules called copper oxide that make pennies look dirty. Pouring vinegar over the pennies helps break up this copper oxide and expose the pure copper on the penny. As the penny dries and is exposed to the air, a chemical reaction occurs and the penny turns green!
Will vinegar clean copper pennies? ›
Copper atoms can combine with oxygen atoms from the air to make a molecule called copper oxide. The pennies looked dull and dirty because they were covered with copper oxide. Why did the vinegar and salt clean the pennies? Copper oxide dissolves in a mixture of weak acid and table salt-and vinegar is an acid.
Is it worth hoarding copper pennies? ›
You want to focus on hoarding pre-1982 U.S. pennies, which contain 95% copper content, making the coin at least twice as valuable as its 1 cent face value. (Post-1982 pennies are not worth collecting, as they contain only 2.5% copper content -- the rest is zinc.)
1943-S Lincoln Cent Sells for $1 Million.
Can I melt down pennies and sell the copper? ›
Pennies and nickels contain copper, zinc, and other metals that are of great monetary value. It is because of this that melting down these metals for the sole intention of selling to offshore or local metal scraping industries is illegal.
How much is a 1943 steel penny worth? ›
These silver-colored 1943 cents are not rare to come by, thus fetching low prices of 10-13 cents for circulated conditions and 50+ cents when uncirculated. The penny's worth relates to its actual face value; that's one cent.
How much is a zinc penny worth in scrap? ›
Each 1¢ penny is worth approximately 2.3860¢ in scrap metal.
Melt value of a ≤1982 penny.
What year pennies have zinc? ›
The composition of pennies changed in late 1982, when zinc became the primary metal instead of copper. Before 1982, pennies were forged of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. However, as copper became more expensive, it was abandoned as the primary metal. Pennies are now made of a zinc core and a thin copper coating.
When was the last 1943 copper penny found? ›
1943 copper cent
Examples were discovered after the War, with the first two in 1947, and another in 1958.
What years of pennies are worth money? ›
Here's a rundown of 10 of the most expensive pennies made since 1900:
- 1909-S Indian Cent: $300 to $1,000+ ...
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: $600 to $1,300+ ...
- 1914-D Lincoln Cent: $150 to $2,200+ ...
- 1922 Plain Lincoln Cent: $500 to $10,500+ ...
- 1931-S Lincoln Cent: $65 to $100+ ...
- 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent: $125,000+
Why is a 1943 copper penny worth so much? ›
The Rare 1943 Penny
If your 1943 penny is made out of copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong planchet metal when striking the coin. But very, very few of these left the U.S.
What year are 95% copper pennies? ›
It is a well known fact that pennies minted from 1982 and back are made of 95% copper. These copper pennies are not rare at all.
Do older pennies have more copper? ›
Pennies used to be made from 95% copper, at least until 1982. 1 Since 2000, the price of copper has risen dramatically, making the meltdown value of these pennies more than the face value of the coin.
Although many factors determine the exact value of a coin, you can quickly determine the value of your penny by knowing its type, date, mintmark, and grade. Additionally, the value of a particular coin can vary between markets and coin dealers.
How much is a 1944's copper penny worth? ›
Prices range from around 20 cents in circulated condition, to 35 cents in uncirculated.
What pennies should I look for? ›
15 Most Valuable Pennies Still in Circulation
- 15 Most Valuable Pennies Still in Circulation. ...
- 15. 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die) ...
- 1970 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Small Date - High 7) ...
- 1999 S Lincoln Memorial Cent (Close AM) ...
- 1984 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Ear) ...
- 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Doubled Die Reverse)
Is a 1943 copper penny worth $1000000? ›
A Massachusetts man's rare 1943 Lincoln penny could be worth over a million dollars. The 1943 penny was minted in steel due to Copper being a valuable material for the war effort.
What pennies are worth more than $1000? ›
The coin in question is a penny from 1909. If you find a 1909 penny with an S on the front and the letters VDB on the back at the bottom, it could be worth nearly $1,000.
How much is a 100% copper penny worth? ›
$0.0253525 is the melt value for the 1909-1982 copper cent on December 13, 2022.
How do professionals clean coins? ›
These coins are cleaned by using distilled water with a small amount of detergent in a special vibrating container. Acid based cleaners will eat away at a coin's surface diminishing its value.
How do you clean old pennies without devaluing them? ›
If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. Next, add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and agitate the water to create bubbles. Add the coins, and rub each one until the surface looks shiny. Rinse with warm water, then dry.
Should you clean old copper coins? ›
There is no benefit to attempting to clean a collectible coin. Copper never re-tones to its original color and look anyway. Put down the polish before you destroy something historical and throw away a fortune.
What is a 1943 zinc penny worth? ›
Common 1943 Steel Penny Values
Date & Mint | Circulated | |
---|
| Buy | Sell |
1943 Zinc | $0.10 | $1.90 |
1943-D Zinc | $0.13 | $2.40 |
1943-S Zinc | $0.18 | $4.50 |
30 Mar 2022
Yes, that refreshing can of co*ke that you like to drink by the pool can also clean coins. co*ke's phosphoric acid can clean the oxides that cause tarnish and corrosion.
Does hydrogen peroxide clean pennies? ›
Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. To clean using this method, place your coins in a small plastic container, fill with enough hydrogen peroxide to cover, and soak for 24 hours.
How do you bulk clean pennies? ›
In a plastic container like those for storing your leftover foods or a small child sized bucket, add 1 cup of white vinegar and soak 4-5 coins in it. The longer you leave them to soak, the better the effect of the vinegar will be. For coins that are more than 50% corroded, it's advisable to soak them overnight.
Is Destroying pennies a crime? ›
It is not illegal to melt, form, destroy, or otherwise modify US coins, including pennies, unless the objective is fraudulent or with the intent of selling the raw materials of the coins for profit.
When should you not pick up a penny? ›
This is where the heads up for luck and tails for bad luck comes from. If you find a penny with the “good” side up, pick it up. If the “bad” side is up, leave it be. If you inadvertently pick up a “tails up” penny, avoid the bad luck by putting it back down heads up to help the luck of someone else.
Which pennies contain zinc? ›
Did you know that pennies in the United States have been made from a variety of materials, other than copper? In the past, pennies were made of 100% copper and even steel, but pennies made in 1982 and later are copper-plated zinc.
What year pennies are made of zinc? ›
In 1982, the fast-rising price of copper forced the U.S. Mint to change the composition of the penny to primarily zinc, with pure copper plating.
What years of pennies are 100% copper? ›
History of composition
Years | Material | Weight (grams) |
---|
1793–1795 | ~100% copper | 13.48 |
1795–1857 † | ~100% copper | 10.89 |
1856–1864 | 88% copper, 12% nickel (also known as NS-12) | 4.67 |
1864–1942 | bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) | 3.11 |
5 more rows
Should I keep copper pennies? ›
You want to focus on hoarding pre-1982 U.S. pennies, which contain 95% copper content, making the coin at least twice as valuable as its 1 cent face value. (Post-1982 pennies are not worth collecting, as they contain only 2.5% copper content -- the rest is zinc.)
Are zinc pennies worth anything? ›
To "revive" some of the original beauty, some unscrupulous coin dealer's started to re-plate the steel pennies with a fresh zinc coating. Although these pennies show a brilliant shine, they are considered damaged coins and carry little to no value.
Zinc is worth $4,330.85 per ton. This translates to $4.33 per kilogram and around $1.96 per pound. Based on the prices, a penny is currently worth $0.030282, or more than triple its monetary value. While making two pennies on every penny melted down doesn't sound like a huge win, it could add up quickly.
Does a bronze penny stick to a magnet? ›
There is one notable difference. Copper-plated coins are attracted to magnets because of the iron content of the steel core, whereas bronze coins are not magnetic.
Will bronze stick to a magnet? ›
Bronze is a mixture (alloy) of mostly copper with about 12% tin, and sometimes small amounts of nickel (nickel can make it very slightly magnetic but, generally, bronze is not magnetic).
What color is a zinc coated penny? ›
The penny develops a zinc “silver-colored” coating.
How can you tell the difference between a 1982 copper and zinc penny? ›
For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them . Solid copper pennies weigh 3.11 grams (+/- 0.130 g.), whereas the copper plated zinc pennies weigh only 2.5 grams (+/- 0.100 g.).
Why is a 1982 D penny rare? ›
The 1982-D small date bronze Lincoln cent is a rare and valuable transitional error! So, how do you find them? There are two key diagnostics: the size of the date and the coin's weight. The 1982-D small date bronze weighs about 3.1 grams, versus only 2.5 grams for the far more common zinc issue.
Which year penny is worth the most? ›
The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics — and reportedly the most valuable Lincoln penny of all.